Background:
I had Windows 10 (upgraded from 7)
with Ubuntu 14.04 32-bit. I wanted to upgrade to 16.04 so started researching
about it. While digging into my system I found out that I have 4 GB ram and yet
I installed 32-bit version. So I decided to remove 14.04 and install 16.04 with
64-bit architecture.
Getting started:
Download the ISO from Ubuntu site
and burn it to disk or make a bootable USB flash drive. Make sure that you have
proper architecture, 32-bit if you have less than 3 GB else go for 64-bit.
Partitions:
Let talk about hard disk partitions a little because it’s
important for advance but rather easy installation. Each hard disk can have 4
primary partitions and that is where OS can be installed. Now that
doesn’t mean you can only install 4 OS in one hard disk. This is where extended
and logical partition comes into picture.
You can create 3 primary partitions
and 1 extended partition. This extended partition can have multiple logical
partitions. So you can either create 4 primary partitions or create 3 primary
partitions and 1 extended partition (which is primary partition in a way) with
multiple logical partitions.
Open ‘Computer Management’
application from start menu and click on ‘Disk Management’. Here you should be
able to see various hard disks and its partitions.
So basically in windows file system
each partition is represented as drive letters (c: d: e: etc.,). In Linux,
file system its bit different, it has sda which represents hard disk and sda1,
sda2, sda3 etc. as partition representation.
As you can see top three entries without any file system are
Ubuntu OS and the forth entry is reserved by laptop manufacturer for OS
restore. Rest 4 are NTFS partitions from which one has Windows OS installed
(c:), one has boot for Linux (e:) which was created by Ubuntu (more on this
later), one has my data (g:) and last one (d:) is reserved by laptop
manufacturer for drivers etc.
You can install Ubuntu in as small
as 15 to 20 GB but I have used approx. 46 GB. You need to free up space from
either primary or extended partition via disk management utility or various
third party tools available online.
Installation:
Use the disk or bootable USB flash
drive that you created earlier and restart the system. Change boot order so
that the disk or USB flash drive is accessed prior to hard disk.
Once media is accessed you will see various options as below:
·
Try Ubuntu without installation
·
Install Ubuntu
·
OEM install (for manufacturers)
·
Check disk for defeats
Select Install Ubuntu and let the installation load which might
take a little time. You will be greeted at Welcome screen where you should choose
language. After continuing you should see Preparing to install Ubuntu screen
with following options:
·
Download
updated while installing Ubuntu
·
Install
third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware, Flash, MP3 and other
media
First
options is not selectable because you are installing directly from media, if
you chosen
‘Try Ubuntu’ first
and installed from there then you should be able to select this option. You
should select second option as it’s recommended.
When you click continue you might
get pop up ‘Force UEFI installation?’ UEFI is a new
bios firmware that is used with newer OS and hardware. If you have Windows 8 or
later you should continue with UEFI method. As mentioned before I had Windows 7
and upgraded to Windows 10 so I did not continue with UEFI method, instead I
clicked go back.
You should see Installation type
screen with following options:
·
Install
Ubuntu alongside them
·
Erase
disk and install Ubuntu
·
Something
else
I
got first option because I already Ubuntu prior to writing this blog. Select
the ‘Something else as we want to custom install Ubuntu.
Above image is of ‘Gparted’
application from my installed Ubuntu which we will use here as a reference to
custom install Ubuntu. Remember
the e: drive I mentioned that is where Ubuntu updated boot record. You should see a screen which look little similar to
shared image but with some options below.
Swap
‘Swap’ is used for paging. It is used when you RAM memory runs
out. You should keep its size as 1.5 to 2 times of RAM memory. Select ‘Unallocated’
and click on ‘+’ button.
·
Size : As I have 4 GB RAM I have kept 6000 MB
·
Type of the new partition : Primary
·
Location for the new partition : Beginning of this space
·
Use as : Swap area
Root (/)
This is where Ubuntu OS is installed along with installation of software
and updates. Keep this partition size at least 10 to 15 GB. Again select ‘Unallocated’ and click ‘+’.
·
Size : As you desire. I have allocated 20000 MB
·
Type of the new partition : Primary
·
Location for the new partition : Beginning of this space
·
Use as : Ext4
·
Format : true
·
Mount point : /
Home
Home is where user data is stored
this is similar to user documents in Windows OS. You know the drill select ‘Unallocated’
and click ‘+’ (You are becoming pro now J).
·
Size : Remaining space
·
Type of the new partition : Logical
·
Location for the new partition : Beginning of this space
·
Use as : Ext4
·
Format : true
·
Mount point : /home
That’s it tuff part is over. Click “Install
now” and Ubuntu will start installing. While it is being installed in
background you are presented with few basic settings like location, keyboard
layout and login credentials.
After installation is competed you
might get a pop up to set boot record for Ubuntu click ok. You might also get
pop up regarding UEFI, select the option you selected earlier. Restart PC and
remove bootable media. You should see menu with different OS options.
OOPS !!!
If you do not see Windows OS option
in boot menu don’t panic. Boot into Ubuntu, open terminal and enter following
command:
sudo update-grub
Restart PC and
you should see Windows OS option in menu.
Conclusion
We have reached
to the end of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Installation. If you have any queries or
feedback let me know in comment section below.
